Snape as the Hanged Man (tarot)

[iris_ft]

No: HPFGUIDX 73247

-- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mlle_bienvenu" 
<mlle_bienvenu at h...> wrote:
> You Wrote:"It would be definitely negative without consciousness. 
> > That's the key of the Hanged Man symbol: learning through hard 
> > ordeals. Thanks to his consciousness, the Hanged Man can turn a 
> > negative situation (to be hanged upside down) into a positive 
> > situation (standing and facing, exactly as Harry does when he 
> > accepts to duel with Voldemort)... " 
> 
> Now I am curious as to the meaning of the Hanged Man 
> reversed...Perhaps Snape is the reversal of the Hanged Man. Any 
Tarot 
> buffs out there to tell us the reversal of the Hanged Man?
> 
> Mlle Bienvenu

Now me: I think the Hanged Man reversed means that the initiated 
person improved themselves through the ordeals they had to suffer, 
and is now a new person. If you know tarots, you probably know that 
the following card is Death. It doesn't mean physical death. It only 
means that the initiated person suffered a huge change, and is no 
longer the same (and it fits with Harry's behaviour in OotP; some 
listies were very disturbed because they simply didn't recognize 
him). All the matter is to know if the change is positive or 
negative. Of course, in Harry's case, it is positive, though he 
suffers, though he happens to be rude with his friends, and though 
it 's hard for him to go on.
In Snape's case, well I don't know. He hates Harry because the kid 
is his nemesis' son. In other words, he doesn't forgive Harry for 
what James did when he was a teenager. I think Snape in a certain 
way, is still hanging upside down, mentally. He didn't manage to 
overpass the trauma, he didn't manage to go back to his feet and go 
on. There's a part in him that is still a teen age boy (and we could 
say the same concerning Sirius; they are twins in a psychological 
way). And that's why he hates Harry and bullies him. Take this 
example: when he sees that Harry managed to produce a correct 
potion, he breaks flask willingly, so he will have the satisfaction 
of giving the kid a zero. This is not the behaviour of a mature 
teacher. Even if you don't like a student, even if he or she has a 
negative behaviour (but it's not Harry's case), you must treat 
him/her fairly. If you have to evaluate their work, you must put 
apart your private considerations, they don't have to interfere in 
the mark. Breaking the flask, Snape behaves like a resentful 
teenager. He punishes Harry for James's and Sirius's faults.
As you quoted, it's a matter of consciousness. Apparently, Harry 
learns better than Snape.
Although he is still a teenager, he is in a certain way (his 
behaviour) more mature than his teacher. 
Harry needs Snape because he needs to master the art of potions, 
which will play IMO a huge part in Book 6. Snape needs Harry to 
overpass his own anger and resentment. I'm sure the kid will manage 
to understand where his own interest lies and will make an effort to 
overpass the anger he feels towards his master. I don't know if I 
can make the same assertion concerning Snape. Any thoughts?

Amicalement,

Iris